The family is our natural habitat, the first community of life, a place of welcome, belonging, and encounter. It develops and humanizes us like no other institution; it drives us to fulfillment. But families also undergo conflict and suffering. There are no perfect families; there are more or less functional ones. Countless challenges and aspirations, internal and external circumstances, put members of families to the test day by day, for which they are too often not sufficiently prepared.

We must recognize this, and accompany families in the integral and full development of their members, for the benefit of each one individually and of our society as a whole.